Editing Rookie Rescue Officer

|title      = Player character

The '''main character of ''[[Pikmin 4]]''''' (referred to by [[#Naming|various nouns]]) is a customizable character whose name and appearance can be changed in a character creator on each save file. They are the newest recruit to the [[Rescue Corps]], sent to rescue them from a crash landing after trying to rescue [[Captain Olimar]] for the same reason. They, along with [[Oatchi]], are the only playable [[leaders]] in the game's [[Story Mode]]. Their ID card mentions they are from the planet [[Karut]], which cannot be changed or customized. Their appearance can also be altered mid-story after rescuing the [[castaway]] [[Puddle]].

Unlike previous characters, this character is silent for the majority of gameplay, only speaking with other characters via text prompts selected by the player (usually only between 2 to 3 options).

As this character is fully customizable, much of the game's promotional material as well as the game's own introduction addresses the character by addressing the viewer in second-person perspective (such as saying "you" or "you're").

The default design of the character also appears in the [[Pikmin comic]].

The default design that is shown in trailers, promotional art, and in game demonstrations is obtained by choosing the first option in all of the character creator's steps. In this style, they have a full head of unkempt red hair, one long eyelash atop each eye, rosy cheeks, a small spherical nose, a small circular open mouth, an orange antenna light, as well as a full red [[spacesuit]] with white gloves and boots.

The player character of {{p4}} is the newest recruit of the [[Rescue Corps]], who is sent to [[PNF-404]] to rescue them from a crash landing while they were trying to rescue [[Captain Olimar]]. They must also find the rest of the rescue corps on this planet as well as finding as much castaways they can.

These are all the option available in the character creator. The choice of available faces and haircuts depends on the chosen body type.

! '''Skin color'''

| [[File:SkinColor.png]]

! Body type !! Face !! Haircut

| [[File:BodyTypeSmall.png]] || [[File:FaceSmall.png]] || [[File:HairSmall.png]]

| [[File:BodyTypeMedium.png]] || [[File:FaceMedium.png]] || [[File:HairMedium.png]]

| [[File:BodyTypeTall.png]] || [[File:FaceTall.png]] || [[File:HairTall.png]]

| [[File:BodyTypeLarge.png]] || [[File:FaceBig.png]] || [[File:HairLarge.png]]

Upon completing all of Puddle's side missions, the [[Leafling]] body type becomes available along with a corresponding set of faces.

! Hair color

| [[File:HairColor.png]]

! [[Spacesuit]] color

| [[File:SpacesuitColor.png]]

* '''Newbie Rescue Officer''', '''Rescue Officer''', or '''newbie''' in the [[Pikmin comic]] and by [[Rescue Corps]] members (notably [[Dingo]])

* '''Rookie''' by Rescue corps member Dingo, who even refers to them as "our star rookie"

* '''New blood''' by Rescue corps member [[Yonny]]

Swiperyou01.png|Some possible combinations from the character creator, revealing options for hairstyles and faces not seen in the story trailer.

Swiperyou02.png|More combinations from the character creator, revealing even more options for hairstyles and faces not seen in the story trailer.

* If the player customizes their character to look identical to another character, then that character will point this out in their first conversation.{{cite youtube|DxjxXNK65n0|showing the different dialog that appears when the player talks to a character when the two look identical.}} It should be noted that this interaction can only be seen once.

* The color of the spacesuit the player chooses directly affects the coloring of character and object textures such as the [[Rescue Corps]] spacesuits and [[Oatchi]]'s collar in-game and in menus and the ID Info Cards.

* The home planet of the main character, Karut, is named after Nintendo's original name, Nintendo Karuta. It also refers to Japanese playing cards.

{{Characters}}